A home should be a place where we feel warm, secure and comfortable but, for many, it is anything but that. This is why Royal LePage Credit Valley Real Estate decided to focus its charitable efforts where they can make a difference; sheltering women and their children fleeing abuse and violence.

When husband-and-wife team Ron and Kathie Rouse purchased the Royal LePage franchise in Brampton in 2003, it was decided that Kathie's long-standing support of women's shelters would be expanded to include the support of the brokerage. Together with their staff, agents and business associates, Ron and Kathie have endeavoured to make a difference in their community by enabling these women and children to escape their abused past and live safe and healthy lives, unhindered by domestic violence.

Since 2005, Royal LePage Credit Valley Real Estate has raised $60,000 in support of several programs run by the local shelter, The Honeychurch Family Life Resource Centre, commonly known as The Women's Shelter of Peel. 2006 has witnessed the birth of "Shelter Brampton", an initiative to expand on the fund-raising efforts and facilitate further contributions.

Corporately, Royal LePage founded the Shelter Foundation in 1998, which supports more than 150 shelters across Canada. The money raised by any Royal LePage office remains in the community, benefiting its local shelter. Each year, over 30,000 flee domestic abuse in Canada which is why Royal LePage is now partnering with the Canadian Women's Foundation in an effort to break the cycle of violence. Since its inception, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation has raised $16 million.